Select Window > Toolbars and choose Getting Started, Basic, or Advanced.
Last updated on
Oct 25, 2026
Learn how to access tools in Adobe Illustrator by selecting them, using keyboard shortcuts, or cycling through hidden options.
The toolbar gives you quick access to all the tools you need to create artwork in Illustrator. Adobe Illustrator offers three toolbar configurations—Getting Started, Basic, and Advanced—each designed for different experience levels.
Understand toolbar types
Illustrator provides three toolbar configurations:
- Getting Started appears by default for new users and contains essential tools organized by category
- Basic includes frequently used tools for common design tasks
- Advanced displays all available tools in Illustrator
Each toolbar includes an All-Tools drawer at the bottom for access to the complete tool set.
Switch between toolbar types
A. Getting Started toolbar B. Basic toolbar C. Advanced toolbar D. All Tools drawer E. Flyout menu F. A tool already available in the toolbar G. A tool that can be dragged into the toolbar H. Tool category
Alternatively, select Edit Toolbar at the bottom of your current toolbar, then select the flyout menu icon and choose your preferred toolbar type.
The Advanced toolbar provides the fastest access to all tools if you're working on complex projects.
Select a tool
Click the tool icon in the toolbar to select it.
For tools with a small triangle at the lower-right corner, hold down the mouse button to reveal hidden tools, then select the one you need.
Press the tool's keyboard shortcut to select it instantly. Hover over any tool to see its shortcut in the tooltip.
You can also cycle through hidden tools by holding Alt(Windows) or Option (macOS) and repeatedly clicking the tool icon. Keyboard shortcuts provide the fastest way to switch between tools during active work.
Access tool options
Select a tool in the toolbar.
View available options in the Properties panel.
For additional settings, double-click a tool icon to open its dedicated options dialog.
Adjust toolbar display and position
Drag the title bar at the top of the toolbar to reposition it anywhere in your workspace.
Click the double-arrow icon on the title bar to toggle between single-column and double-stack layout.
The double-stack layout saves vertical screen space.
Show or hide the toolbar
Select Window > Toolbars to toggle toolbar visibility.
You can also click the close button on the title bar of the toolbar to hide it and maximize canvas space.
Switch to precise cursors
Press Caps Lock to toggle between standard tool icons and precise crosshair cursors .
To make precise cursors your default, select Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > General (macOS), then enable Use Precise Cursors.
Change drawing modes
Select the Drawing Modes
icon at the bottom of the toolbar.
Choose Draw Normal, Draw Behind, or Draw Inside.
Draw Normal places new objects in standard stacking order. Draw Behind places new objects behind existing artwork on the current layer. Draw Inside creates new objects as a clipping mask within the selected object.
Change screen modes
Select the Change Screen Mode icon at the bottom of the toolbar.
Choose your preferred screen mode.
Different screen modes adjust how much of the interface is visible, from full menus and panels to a minimal view.
Control tooltip display
Select Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > General (macOS).
Deselect Show Tool Tips to disable tooltips.
Disabling tooltips removes the descriptive popups that appear when you hover over tools, which some users prefer once they've memorized tool names and shortcuts.
Design with precision in Illustrator
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